Parking Lot Wisdom: How Putting Others First Takes You Further
In Japan there is a common practice and mutual understanding that if you arrive at the office early you don't park in one of the closest parking spaces, instead you park further away from your office in order to free up the closest parking spaces for people who arrive later so that they can start work on time.
Now, some of you might be thinking, "Hey, I arrived early - I earned the best space!" Okay. Sure. Maybe. Perhaps. Quiet possibly. Yup.
Then again, imagine if we applied this concept to so many facets of our lives and workplaces. Imagine if we all started
thinking about the impact of our actions on one another, anticipated other people's needs, and considered what's best for the entire team, company, or heck, all of humanity, instead of what's the best choice just for ourselves.
It reminds me of a theater improv principal where individual performers enter an improv scene not with the mindset of "how can I look like the
star or the hero in this scene?" but rather, "What can I do to elevate this scene by making the rest of my teammates look great!"
Mike's Fun at Work Tip
Create a fun "safe word" for your meetings for anyone to use to lighten the mood before they want to say something that might be challenging for them to speak up about. Maybe they want to challenge a popular opinion, ask an uncomfortable question, or suggest a provocative idea. Having meeting participants call out "pickle,"
"squeegee," or "wombat" is a fun way to keep things light while signaling that someone has something serious they need to say and they're asking for everyone to truly hear them and to keep
an open mind.
Quote of the Week
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Charles M. Schulz
Funny Business
As seen on a sign at a beach-front restaurant:
ONCE YOUR FOOD IS IN YOUR
HANDS,
IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
IF A SEAGULL SWOOPS IN AND STEALS IT,
PLEASE TAKE IT UP WITH THE SEAGULL UNION.
WE DON'T EMPLOY THEM,
AND THEY DON'T ACCEPT
REFUND REQUESTS.
GOOD LUCK OUT THERE!
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